What Classics Did You See Last Week (December 24-30)
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spiderwort — 2 years ago(December 30, 2023 08:38 PM)
Re-watches, all cheerful favorites:
One Special Night
(1999) TV movie (on Prime Video)
Babe
(1995) Nominated for 7 Oscars, including Best Picture
The Miracle on 34th Street
(1947)
The Shop Around the Corner
(1940) -
PygmyLion — 2 years ago(December 31, 2023 02:57 AM)
None But the Lonely Hearts
(1944) - Cary Grant, Ethel Barrymore, Barry Fitzgerald, June Duprez, Jane Wyatt - Grant plays a Cockney drifter, who decides to stay near home when he finds out his mother (Barrymore) is dying - 7
Remember the Night
(1940) - Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Beulah Bondi - Lee Leander, a shoplifter on trial, is taken home to Indiana by the prosecuting attorney (MacMurray) for the holidays - 7
Platinum Blonde
(1931) - Jean Harlow, Loretta Young, Robert Williams** - very rich Anne Schuyler (Harlow) marries reporter Smith (Williams), and starts to convert him to the upper class life. He has to give up all his old reporter friends including Gallagher (Young). Can he escape from the gilded cage. - 7
Every Girl Should Be Married
(1948)- Cary Grant, Betsey Drake, Franchot Tone - Anabel Sims (Drake) has her heart set on Dr.Madison Brown for a husband, and does what ever she can to get him - 7
The Big Sleep
(1946) - Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Martha Vickers - The plot seems a little hard to follow, but they keep the movie moving well - 7
It's a Wonderful Life
(1946) - Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell. - I hadn't seen this movie for twenty years or so. Very good. - 9
** I'd never heard of Robert Williams. He apparently got the leading role in
Platinum Blonde
but then according to IMDB:
Unfortunately, his work was at an end, for this star-making performance turned out to be Williams' swan song. Bobby was rehearsing with Constance Bennett for his next RKO picture, Lady with a Past (1932), when he complained of stomach pains. After a day or two the pain worsened, and despite his protests Williams was rushed to a hospital for an appendicitis operation. Before the operation was completed his appendix burst. Days later, on November 3, 1931, Williams died of peritonitis. He was 34 years old. Platinum Blonde (1931) had been released just four days earlier, and the first reviews proclaimed that Hollywood had a new star. Instead, Robert Williams became one of Hollywood's great might-have-beens. -
Rufus-T — 2 years ago(December 31, 2023 08:04 PM)
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650/
The ultimate Christmas movie. First time seeing it colorized. Kind of weird about the color in the beginning, but it didn't bother me much very fast. A great movie with an excellent story is just as good colorized or not. Though I still prefer it black and white.
Maestro (2023)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5535276/
The movie looks good, and the music were great. The two lead were sensational, especially Carey Mulligan. However, I am very disappointed at the movie itself. There is a strong artsy element, but the story can be improved.
Crank (2006)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479884/
Ultra action movie starring Jason Statham. The action gottne very over the top. As silly as it was, It was very entertaining, and funny at times especially when handling the ditzy girlfriend played by Amy Smart.
Godzilla Minus One (2023)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23289160/
The Godzilla movie is not campy like most, but with a serious back story with very similar tone for the classic 1950s original Godzilla movie. In fact, the story is not as much about Godzilla but about a redemption of a kamikaze pilot who felt disgraced by evaded duty in WWII. Excellent
Poor Things (2023)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14230458/
Visually stunning Sci-Fi fantasy story about a reanimated woman discovering about life, mostly sexual in nature. Seinfeld fans may think of it as a version of Rochelle, Rochelle. Emma Stone was just outstanding in this role. The movie was totally surreal, and shot in wide angle. The story did get pornographics at times with the sexual theme. If you are into something unusual and wacky and funny, this is the movie for you. I personally thought it was well made.
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5537002/
Not a usual snappy Martin Scorsese movie, but an epic detailing of a malicious crime in the early 20s. With 3 1/2 hours, it was not boring at all. One of the best of the year. Robert DeNiro playing the villain at his best in a long time.
Ricky Gervais: Armageddon (2023)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30088797/
Politically incorrect stand up comedy. Sometimes you just feel Ricky Gervais was trolling on easily offended sensitive individuals. If you like his controversial opening speech in the Golden Globe award several years back, you'll love this one.
Spy Game (2001)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266987/
Very good Tony Scott action spy thriller, with lots of editing as usual for his films. CIA Agent Robert Redford (Robert Redford) being interrogated about his former subordinate (Brad Pitts) possibility of working against the CIA. Mostly told in flashback.
Bill Burr: Paper Tiger (2019)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10847306/
Bill Burr poked fun of the recent politically correct culture. He is one of the best in articulate the situation in the most hilarious way. Warning to those who are easily offended, but not as egregious as Ricky Gervais. -
unex — 2 years ago(January 01, 2024 01:46 PM)
Captains Courageous (1937) - Spencer Tracy sounds like Chico Marx in this. I typically don't enjoy a movie with a child in a lead role but this was good (though for some reason the kid was the lone character with an English accent).
China Seas (1935) - Another Clark Gable boat movie. Hollywood made a lot of boat movies in the 30s. This one doesn't stick out in any way. Both of these movies had themes of class difference. Maybe a popular topic in the depression. -
FreeHugs — 2 years ago(January 01, 2024 02:02 PM)
I watched:
Stamped from the Beginning 2023 8/10 An ambitious, provocative, challenging and interesting documentary about an important subject. I liked the interviews with the experts and the use of a variety of clips from different sources. There is a lot of material here and I feel they could have gone a little deeper on some of it and actually spread it out over multiple films. I hope it gets an Oscar nomination for best documentary feature.
The Color Purple 2023 8/10 Good performances from Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, and Taraji P. Henson. I really liked the singing and the costumes. Not everything works and it is a little too long, but there are some wonderful moments.
The Holdovers 2023 8/10 An enjoyable, well written film with good performances.
Camp Courage 2023 8/10 A powerful and compelling documentary short.
The After 2023 8/10 David Oyelowo is excellent in this powerful short film.
Red, White and Blue 2023 7/10 Good performances from Brittany Snow and Juliet Donenfeld, but I predicted the twist almost immediately,which dulled some of its impact. It felt too manipulative and could have also gone deeper in its exploration of the subject matter and the story. Still reasonably effective and worth watching though.
Boom 2023 8/10 This was cute. I really liked the animation.
Pachyderm 2022 8/10 I liked the animation and the way the story was told.
Pete 2022 8/10 I enjoyed this. It's a charming, sweet film and I liked the animation.
Anatomy of a Fall 2023 7/10 Well acted, but doesn't quite have the impact I was expecting. It's longer than it needs to be and I found it underwhelming.
Once Upon a Studio 2023 9/10 This is absolutely magical and charming.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One 2023 8/10 An entertaining and well made action movie.
The Blackening 2022 6/10 Some mildly amusing moments, but this should have been funnier.
The Gingerdead Man 2005 4/10 This isn't very good (shocking!). The acting is bad and the story is under baked. A couple amusing moments, but should have been more fun.
John Wick: Chapter 4 2023 6/10 Why is this so long? There are some good action sequences and nice stunt work, but it grows tiresome after a while. This feels like something we have seen many times over. It's technically well made, but the story wasn't good enough for me.
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar 2023 6/10 This was just okay. I don't think it is as good as the other shortlisted shorts I have seen, The After and Red, White, and Blue.
Hosts 2020 5/10 Acting was sort of decent, but too much talking and crying and not enough fun or action. This was mostly boring with a couple good moments.